Boeing's troubles

For over 100 years, Boeing has been a world-famous company known for its innovative aircraft, helicopters and jets. However, in recent times, the company has become known more for its problematic and troublesome aircraft. For example, recently, the 737 MAX 9 underwent another phase of grounding due to a door plug that flew out of an Alaska Airlines aircraft; shortly before this, suspicions were raised about loose screws on these planes. The 737 MAX also went through a major phase of grounding from March 2019 to December 2021, due to two major crashes that killed a total of 346 people. 

Additionally, United Airlines reported a total of 8 incidents in March, 5 of which involved the Boeing 777 and 737 aircraft. This has caused the American airline to hold back on orders of Boeing’s upcoming 737 MAX 10 aircraft, and instead lean towards Airbus’ A321XLR. Airbus has gained a lot of respect, and an increased amount of orders, during Boeing’s troubles. 

These incidents have contributed largely to concerns about Boeing’s quality and safety, both from the general public and engineers. This has led to a huge financial downfall at Boeing, as they have lost trust from both customers and employees. In fact, one Boeing engineer claimed that his safety concerns about 777 and 787 aircraft, both of which are widely used, were completely ignored during manufacture. This indicates that Boeing has been prioritising their own profit over the safety of passengers.

Throughout these concerns, the Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, has made the decision to step down as the company’s CEO by the end of 2024. This reflects the decisions he has made in some cases to prioritise profit over safety, and shows how it has resulted in an overall decrease in both. With all of this going on, it is still important to keep in mind that air travel remains the safest mode of transport, and that all planes are required to go through thorough cycles of maintenance to ensure that you can safely enjoy your next flight.